Hard-Line Iranians Challenge New President For Being Too Friendly With The West

Iranian supporters of President-elect Hassan Rowhani gather at the mausoleum of the founder of Iran's Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran on June 16, 2013, during a visit for Rowhani to the mausoleum. Rowhani hailed his presidential election win as a victory over "extremism" as jubilant supporters took to the streets, pinning their hopes on an easing of Western sanctions. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)Hard-line parliamentarians challenged Monday the Cabinet proposed by Iran's new president, accusing him of nominating ministers who are friendly to the West or who back "sedition" against the country's clerically dominated system of government. (ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Hard-line parliamentarians challenged Monday the Cabinet proposed by Iran’s new president, accusing him of nominating ministers who are friendly to the West or who back “sedition” against the country’s clerically dominated system of government.

President Hasan Rouhani fired back at his critics, saying he chose Western-educated ministers based on their competence and that the country is tired of “extremism.”

In what is expected to be three days of debate ending Wednesday, legislators will vote individually to approve or reject each minister in Rouhani’s 18-member Cabinet. Hard-liners are using the debates to launch their first major salvo against Rouhani’s agenda since his election in a landslide victory in June, won with the backing of centrists and reformists.

The new president has pledged to improve an economy ravaged by international sanctions through empowering technocrats and mending bridges with the rest of the world. He took the oath of office on Aug. 4 and sent his proposed Cabinet list to the parliament the same day.

Rouhani’s victory — he won an outright majority in the first round of the vote, leaving all his rivals far behind — gives him a strong mandate. But conservatives still dominate parliament.

The core of Rouhani’s team includes figures whose academic pedigrees run through places such as California, Washington and London. Rouhani himself studied in Scotland.

Lawmakers implied they were trying to bring down Iran’s clerically dominated system, linking them to the 2009 street protests, referred to by hard-liners as “sedition.”

“A majority of the proposed Cabinet are either members of the seditious (group) or Western-educated figures,” hardline lawmaker Ataollah Hakimi told the house. “Why are you (Rouhani) seeking to revive sedition?”

Rouhani however suggested that the Iranian electorate, weary of economic hardships linked to sanctions imposed on Iran over its disrupted nuclear program, has endorsed his agenda.

“Society is tired of extremism. Moderation is the path the nation has welcomed,” he said.

He said he named Western-educated ministers because of their competence to address both the impact of sanctions, which primarily target the oil and banking sectors, as well as mismanagement. He also said he would try to mend Iran’s foreign relationships.

“The government pursues a parallel two-pronged path. On one hand, we will try in the arena of diplomacy … to overcome the existing international challenge and stop the current inappropriate trend,” he said during the debate. “On the other hand, we consider the existing shortage of resources as an opportunity to upgrade activities, increase economic resources and allocate the existing resources in an optimal manner.”

Rouhani said his government’s top priority will be to control inflation.

Even if the president’s picks are approved by parliament, it is unclear how much they could actually influence Iranian policies and foster potential outreach diplomacy such as direct talks with the U.S. or possible breakthroughs in wider negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

In Iran’s system, the president is usually tasked with managing the economy and has considerable influence in all spheres of government. But senior clerics have final say on all matters of state and direct control over security policy, including the nuclear program. The West says Iran wants to develop weapons technology, but Iran denies this and says its program is for peaceful purposes.